[Petronski]

Saddam, in contrast, was contained by an aggressive sanctions program, and constant military flyovers, and he had no military to speak of.

Riiiight, herr general.

[churchillbuff]

Saddam, in contrast, was contained by an aggressive sanctions program, and constant military flyovers, and he had no military to speak of. Riiiight, herr general."""

If my statement is wrong, which part of it was wrong? Was there not an aggressive sanctions program that was keeping Iraq from economic expansion? Was there not a systematic program of military flyovers to keep in Iraq in check? Did Iraq have a powerful military? (That it didn't was evidenced by our uninterrupted drive to Bagdhad; there was no military to stop us). Comparing Saddam's weak and contained situation in the early 80s to Hitler's military powerful and aggressively expansive stance in the 1930s simply doesn't hold water.

[churchillbuff]

Also, the idea that containment can't keep a dictator in check is belied by Reagan's policy toward the Soviets. He defeated them by containing them, not by invading them.